The elderly population is exploding around the world and many countries in Asia, Europe and Latin America are growing older at a quicker rate than the United States, according to
Wall Street Journal reporting on new U.S. Census Bureau findings.
Still, by 2050 the number of people in the United States age 65 and over is expected to reach 88 million, almost double from 48 million in 2015.
If those numbers hold up, the elderly would make up 22.1 percent of the U.S. population by 2050, compared to 14.9 percent now, noted the Journal, and adding that populations in South Korea, Hong Kong and Taiwan are aging even faster than the United States.
"While Europe is still the oldest region today and is projected to remain so by 2050, aging in Asia and Latin America will accelerate and rapidly catch up," said the
U.S. Census report. "Asia is just as notable for leading the world in the size of the older population as speed of aging."
The report said some countries will experience a population crunch of a growing elderly population with a decline of overall population.
"The traditionally oldest European countries such as Italy and Spain are no longer experiencing population decline thanks to increases in fertility and major immigration flows," the report said. "New countries joining the list with projected population declines between now and 2050 include some Asian countries driven by rapid fertility decline such as China, South Korea, and Thailand."
Richard Hodes, director of the National Institute of Aging, said that even though people are living longer, it does not mean that they are healthier, noted the
Daily Mail.
"The increase in our aging population presents many opportunities and also several public health challenges that we need to prepare for," Hodes said. "NIA has partnered with census to provide the best possible data so that we can better understand the course and implications of population aging."
The United States is expected to drop from the 48th oldest country to the 85th oldest country by 2050, noted the Journal. Japan is expected to retain the title as the oldest country in the world.
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